Russia upgrades Shahed UAVs with carbon to make them less easy to detect – Ukrainian Air Force

SHAHED UAV. PHOTO: DEFENCE FORCES OF UKRAINE’S SOUTH

The Russians are covering the Shahed kamikaze drones with carbon or repainting them black to make it harder for Ukrainian air defence to shoot them down.

Source: Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, during the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote from Ihnat: “They have previously improved the UAVs they received from Iran and those they produce themselves, using composite materials for the reflective surface.

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We can now see they’ve used carbon fibre. Carbon is an absorbing material for radar signals, and as for the black colour, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand.

This will hamper the air defence efforts, particularly the visual targeting by mobile fire groups.”

Background: On 25 November, the Russians launched a record number of attack UAVs towards Ukraine – a total of 75 Shaheds, with 74 shot down.

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